Proxy

A proxy is a person or thing authorized to act on behalf of another. This could involve voting rights, legal representation, or even a computer server acting as an intermediary. It's about delegated authority or a substitute. Proxies are used to conceal identities, access restricted content, or facilitate actions that the primary entity cannot or chooses not to perform directly. Think of it as a stand-in or an agent.

Proxy meaning with examples

• Shareholders who cannot attend the annual meeting often vote by proxy. They appoint someone to cast their votes on important matters, ensuring their voice is heard even in their absence. This is common practice in large corporations, allowing remote participation.
• A web browser uses a proxy server to access websites. The proxy acts as an intermediary, receiving the user's request and forwarding it to the website. This can improve security and speed by caching frequently accessed content.
• The ambassador served as a proxy for the president during the peace negotiations. Due to the President's unavailability, they were granted authority to represent and negotiate on the country's behalf.
• During the experiment, the data collected from the simulated environment acted as a proxy for real-world conditions. This allowed researchers to study complex phenomena without direct access to the real-world, and often unpredictable, environment.